Restaurant owner Rakesh Patel is excited that his business has taken off since opening on Aug. 6, especially since the pandemic prevented him from welcoming customers for nearly seven months.
“It’s been busy. Everybody loves our food,” he said recently while talking about how the Guac Mexi Grill franchise came to Moose Jaw.
Patel grew up in India before immigrating to Canada eight years ago to study business in Yorkton. This education gave him the business mentality he needed to succeed while he eventually obtained his permanent visa.
He then moved to Regina four years ago to operate a Mr. Sub with a business partner, who happened to live in Moose Jaw and knew what the commercial business industry was like here. His business partner suggested they open a shop in Canada’s Most Notorious City.
“He has been here four years in Moose Jaw. He still says, ‘I like Moose Jaw (more) than the other city (of Regina),’” Patel added.
The business partners decided by December 2019 that their next venture should be another restaurant. They realized that Moose Jaw had few Mexican food businesses at the time, nor was there such a restaurant chain in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.
Patel and his partner had tasted the food at a Guac Mexi Grill in Ontario and loved it so much that they knew this was the type of restaurant they wanted to open. This means Moose Jaw is the first such location in Western Canada for the Ontario-based franchise.
The two began looking for locations in January, with Moose Jaw their first stop. They managed to find a spot at the corner of Hochelaga Street West and Main Street — the building used to house a gym — and had signed the building lease and franchise lease when the pandemic hit. This upset their timetable since they had wanted to open in April.
However, Patel is confident that his business will succeed now that it is open. He pointed to a visible location as one reason and adds they have the best Mexican food in town.
While there are similar restaurants in Moose Jaw, Patel indicated that the food they serve is always fresh, healthy, homemade and of high quality. He believes that by increasing the business’s profile in the restaurant market, he can also raise awareness of his product.
“Once you love it, you will love it always,” he said.
One reason Patel enjoys running a business is it allows him to earn a higher paycheque. He can grow the business and gain a larger share of the community’s food market, ensuring he earns more money and isn’t attached to a fixed income.
The restaurant is located at 4 Hochelaga St. West. Visit Guac Mexi Grill’s Facebook page for more information about what they serve or call 306-693-4822.
